"Do more than you are paid for. There are never any traffic jams on the extra mile." -- Brian Tracy

Starting off the new year with a new attitude about your effort, might just be one of the keys to not only accomplish more but you might just find a few more opportunities come your way too. This is one concept that I try and bring to my students every year, every class; and I try and use it too in my life. Doing more than you get paid for is one of the best ways to make things happen in your professional life.

First off, people notice. Whether it’s your boss, your co-workers, your customers or your competition; someone will pick up the fact that you are someone that gets things done. From these other people noticing you doing more than you get paid for, things will happen that will be good for you and your future. More opportunities for more money, more opportunities for doing things that will advance your career, and others will turn to you to help them get things done. That is another thing that pays well – becoming a problem solver for others.

The other thing that helps you out with you doing more – the simple fact that most people don’t do it. Due to that fact, anytime that you do a little bit more, the 85+% of others that are not doing that, all of them make you look great! Remember, you don’t have to pay them or even thank them. That’s the big part of this whole equation that works the best. Since there is such a large percentage that don’t take this approach in life, anybody who does look to do more than they get paid for, it gets noticed even more.

Please understand this concept: just a little bit more effort on your part will be maximized many times over by the lack of effort by most other people. Powerful and easy to do. Even if you just focused on doing 1% more everyday – think about what you would have to show after one month. Look at the year and what you will accomplish with that concept. Wow! Why don’t you start today? At school, at work, at home, etc. Try it and let me know how it goes.